MasterChugs Theater: ‘Stuck on You’

The Farrelly brothers have made a career out of mocking the afflicted. They had fun at the expense of the mentally challenged in Dumb And Dumber. Last time out they mocked obesity in Shallow Hal. Stuck On You garners its laughs from the exploits of conjoined twins. It’s not a strategy that has won the approval of the politically correct, but their bad taste humor has found a large audience.

That they portray their handicapped with affection goes some way to dispel the charges of ridicule. That they do it so brazenly also warrants some recognition. Most humor comes at the expense of somebody’s misfortune. The Farrellys just happen to focus on those whose misfortunes are more obvious. And, let’s face it, there are few richer subjects than conjoined twins. Stuck On You may effectively be a one gag movie, but it’s one they make full use of, including absurd scenes of the youthful brothers pitching baseball, playing football and boxing. But does the joke ever wear out? Hit the jump to find out. Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘Stuck on You’

MasterChugs Theater: ‘Rounders’

Rounders is a movie in which the central character is not nearly as fascinating as the fringe players that surround him. Now, just hold up a moment. This isn’t a knock on Matt Damon who, as the central character, plays a reformed gambler who turned his attention to law school after overconfidence led to a $30,000 loss at an underground poker game of high rollers. At his age today, nobody holds a better career hand (ha-ha, poker joke) than Matt Damon. Following the box-office and Oscar success of Good Will Hunting (an acting nomination and a win for the script he wrote with co-star, friend and fellow South Boston townie Ben Affleck), Damon, 27, scored the title role in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan; nabbed the lead in The Talented Mr. Ripley, directed by Anthony Minghella (The English Patient); re-teamed with Affleck in Dogma for Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy); and signed for the film of Cormac McCarthy’s best seller All the Pretty Horses when Leo DiCaprio turned it down. Might I also point out the magnificent Ocean’s [Insert Number Here] and Jason Bourne trilogies? But here’s the pull: Rounders (a term for a skilled player who earns a living at poker) is about Damon’s guilt-by-association re-entry into the gambling scene and his resulting struggle to maintain a front as the scrupulous, upright Joe he’s trying to become.

Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘Rounders’